History
of Wadoryu Karate
Let us look at the history of Wadoryu karate which we are
training today more in details. Wadoryu karate was founded by late Ohtsuka
Hironori (1892-1982). Ohtsuka trained Shindo Yoshinryu jujutsu under
Nakayama Tatsusaburo (a kendo instructor, 1870-1933) in his school days
(ca. 1906-1911) and other jujutsu schools while he was a student at Waseda
University in Tokyo. Among others he studied Yoshin Koryu jujutsu from
Kanaya Motoo (ca. 1919-1921) according to Dr. Fujiwara.
He started training karate under Funakoshi Gichin (the
founder of Shotokanryu, 1868-1957) who arrived in Tokyo from Okinawa in
1922. He studied Karate even from Mabuni Kenwa (the founder of Shitoryu
Karate, 1889-1952) who came from Okinawa and
stayed in Tokyo 1928-1929. Ohtsuka studied even from Motobu Choki
(1870-1944) from Okinawa (especially Naifanchi Kata of Wadoryu). According
to my research Ohtsuka was with Funakoshi until 1935.
We can summarize that Wadoryu Karate is based on that
from Okinawa, but influenced by jujutsu and kendo way of thinking.
1934 Ohtsuka started his own school
under the name of Dai Nippon Karate Shinko Club (Dai = great, Nippon =
Japan, Shinko = to promote). This is generally
regarded as the origin of Wadokai. Wado World Cup in Tokyo, in August
1999, was supposed to be the 65 years anniversary of Wadokai.
| 1935
’Karatedo Kyohan’ (by Funakoshi Gichin) was
published. This is Funakoshi’s third book. (after ’Ryukyu Kenpo
Karate’ 1922 and ’Rentan Goshin Karatejutsu’ 1925). Ohtsuka is in this book showing some pair techniques.
Look at the pictures on the right. These are the first pictures of Ohtsuka
published in a book.
1938 Dai Nippon Karate Shinbukai
(Dai=great, Nippon=Japan, Shinbu=to promote Bu, kai=association) was
organized.
The chief instructor was Ohtsuka Hironori, the chairman
Eriguchi Eiichi. It is generally said that Eriguchi found the name
Wadoryu.
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Wa = softness, status of being
mixed together, soften, calm, to harmonize, to add, Japanese
Do = way
Ryu = style, school
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From ’Karatedo Kyohan’
by Funakoshi Gichin, 1935. In the pictures above Funakoshi Gichin
demonstrates Idori technique (defense in sitting position) against Ohtsuka
Hironori. In the pictures below Ohtsuka shows Tantodori (defense against
knife attack against Shimizu Toshiyuki.
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Wa means various. But in the
beginning the idea of being Japanese different from Okinawa may have been
predominant. Japan was in war against China.
In some occasions in the past the letter Wa
was used to mean jujutsu (for example Shoshouryu Yawara-jujutsu).
| 1938 Nakasone Genwa wrote a gigantic
book ’Karatedo Tai-kan’(414 pages). Ohtsuka shows 7 Tantodori
techniques (defense against knife attacks, in this book it is called
Tanken-tori - Omote) against Kato Toshio. The pictures on the right shows Udegarami-dori.
1940 Wadoryu Karatejutsu was
registered at Butokukai, Kyoto for the demonstration of various Budo,
together with Shotokanryu, Shitoryu and Gojuryu. This occasion is regarded
as the first official naming of Karate styles. In next page I will present
the content of this registration.
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From ’Karatedo Taikan’
by Nakasone Genwa, 1938.
Tantodori by Ohtsuka Hironori and Kato Toshio
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Technical System of Wadoryu
By
Dr. Fujiwara, presented in ’Wadokai 60 years’
Registered at Butokukai, Kyoto (1939) and revision at
Tojo Butokukai, (T.B.) (1942 - 1945)
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Tandoku Enrengata 9 Kata
Pinan:
Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan
Kushanku,
Naihanchi, Seishan, Chinto (T.B. - Wanshu, Bassai, Jitte, Jion, Niseishi,
Rohai, Suparinpei)
Kihon Kumite 36
Jodanuke
10 (Omote, Ura)
Chudanuke
10 (Omote, Ura)
Gedanuke
6 (Harai, Kosa, Morote, Hasamite)
Nidan
Henka 6 (Omote, Ura)
Sandan
Henka 4 (Omote, Ura)
3
techniques more than Shotokanryu
Idorigata 6
Maedori
4 (Shin no Kurai, Soedori, Gozendori, Kinshadori) Ushirodori 2 (Kabedori,
Watashidori)
(T.B.
- Tobichigaidori, Nukimi no Metsukedori, Kojirikaeshidori, Ryotedori) From
Shindo Yoshinryu
Tachiai 10
Udeotoshi,
Seotoshi, Eriotoshi, Sodeotoshi, Ashiguruma, Koshiguruma, Kataguruma,
Hikiotoshi, Karisute, Kinukuguri
From
Shindo Yoshinryu, Tehodoki,
Nagekaeshi, Shodan Tachiai
(T.B.
- Deashigari, Osotogari, Kosotogari, Ouchigari, Kouchigari, Seoinage,
Ushirogoshi, Taiotoshi, Haraigoshi, Uchimata, Yokootoshi, Sumikaeshi,
Oguruma, Yokogake)
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Yakusoku Kumuitegata 10
Present
Yakusoku Kumite
Ohyogata 10
mixture
of Kihon Kumite and Tachiaigata
Tantodori 5
Udegaramidori,
Kotenagedori, Ungadori, Erinagedori, Zudori, Hikitatedori, Hikiotoshidori
Shindo Yoshinryu Nagekaeshi (T.B.
- 7)
Tachidori - Shinken Shirahadori
Jodan,
Kesa, Do, Tsuki, Kote, Nagi (T.B. - Jodandori, Chudandori, Gedandori,
Wakigamaedori, Hassodori)
Kassatsu Jizaigata 5
(Saving
and killing techniques)
Suikatsu,
Rakukatsu, Oukatsu, Yukatsu, Enkatsu, Toukatsu, Dakatsu Shindo Yoshinryu (T.B.
- 7)
Rataidori 3
(Naked
techniques)
Maedori,
Yokodori, Ushirodori, Shindo
Yoshinryu
Keisatsu Taihojutsu 14
(Arresting
techniques for policemen)
Tehodoki
2, Kansetsuwaza 3, Nagewaza 5, Osaewaza 4, Revised from Shindo Yoshinryu
Joshi Goshinjutsu 14
(Selfdefence
techniques for women)
Maedori
6, Yokodori 2, Ushirodori 3, Osaedori 4
Revised from Funakoshi Gichin
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The techniques registered at Butokukai in 1939 are
very comprehensive comparing with those that are practiced today. It had
to be this way in order to be
accepted as a style as Japanese bujutsu.
1941-1945 Japan was involved in the Second
World War. Karate activities went down during this period.
1948 Zen Nippon Karate Renmei
(ZNKR-All Japan Karate Federation) was started only by Wado group at the
same time as Shotokan started Japan Karate Association (JKA). Each style
organization was working independently.
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From ’ Karatejutsu no
Kenkyu’ 1955 by Ohtsuka Hironori. Techniques from Pinan Shodan
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1955 ’Karatejutsu no Kenkyu’
(Kenkyu=study) was published based on ’Karatejutsu Oboegai’
(Oboegai=Memorandum,
1949 by
Tokyo University Karate Club). The book presents 9 Wadoryu Katas. This
became the base for ’Karatedo Vol.1’ by Ohtsuka 1970.
From the Bulletin of
Wadokai 1955. Ohtsuka shows Junzuki
ZNKR started to publish bulletin for members. Editor
was the general secretary Ishizuka Akira. ZNKR seems to be the only karate
organization that had such a bulletin.
1964 Official all style Zen Nippon
Karatedo Renmei (FAJKO) was started. No private organization should use
the name All Japan. Wadokai gained the name FAJKO Wadokai - today
JKF-Wadokai (Japan Karate Federation Wadokai)
because Wadokai has a close co-operation with JKF, the official federation
in Japan.
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1970 ’Karatedo Vol.1’ by Ohtsuka
was published. He presents 9 Wadoryu Katas (Pinan-5, Naifanchi, Seishan,
Kushanku and Chinto). He declared in his book that Wadokai had these 9
Katas and nothing more. If
you study a Kata deeply and carefully, then 9 Katas are already very many.
That is my impression. 9
Wadoryu Katas were
finally standardized by this book.
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But especially in Europe some instructors taught other
Katas (Bassai, Jion, Jitte, Niseishi and Rohai) though they were not
official in Wadokai. Maybe because more Katas were needed considering the
competitive situation against other styles. But this caused a sort
of turbulence in Wado Katas. In some FEW competitions we could see for
example four or five different Bassai Katas. Today Wadokai has
standardized these Katas.
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Wadoryu
Katas and the influence
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Pinan Shodan, Nidan, Sandan,
Yondan, Godan
(Ohtsuka studied Pinan
Katas from Funakoshi - Funakoshi was called Pinan Sensei in Tokyo, but
rearranged after Mabuni and some idea from Shindo Yoshinryu.)
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Funakoshi |
Mabuni
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Naifanchi
(Ohtsuka says that he has
taken Motobus Naifanchi. But there is a slight difference from Motobus
Naifanchi.)
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Motobu
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Seishan
(It is obvious that Ohtsuka
has taken Shotokan Seishan (today Hangetsu). In no other style Seishan is
performed in this way.)
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Funakoshi
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| Kushanku |
Funakoshi |
Mabuni
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Chinto
(Both Kushanku and Chinto
are similar in Shitoryu and Shotokan. These should be classified as Itosu
Kushanku and Itosu Chinto.)
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Funakoshi |
Mabuni
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Bassai
(Bassai Kata of Shitoryu,
Shotokan and Wadoryu are in the same stream - Itosu Bassai. But Wado
Bassai is a direct heritage from Shotokan.)
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Funakoshi |
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Jion, Jitte
(Jitte, Jion and Jiin seem
to be Katas of similar type. These Katas in Shitoryu and Shotokan are
similar.)
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Funakoshi |
Mabuni
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Niseishi
(Ohtsuka may have studied
Niseishi from Funakoshi first, but adjusted later to Shitoryu way.)
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Mabuni
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Rohai
(This is Itosu Rohai. Wado
Rohai is Rohai Shodan, while Shotokan Meikyo is Rohai Nidan.)
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Mabuni
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Wanshu
(It is probable that Ohtuska
did not make much change in this Kata from Funakoshi.)
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Funakoshi |
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1981 Some months before Ohtsuka's death, one group with Ohtsuka's
son Jiro as its chief was split from Wadokai. This split group is called
Wadoryu Renmei. But this group is regarded as a private group in Japan.
1989 a new split has occurred from
Wadoryu Renmei. Suzuki Tatsuo, resident in London, split from Wadoryu
Renmei and started his private group International Wadoryu Federation.
Today, Wadoryu Karate is trained in three different
organizations, but Wadokai is by far the biggest and is a consisting
member of JKF. In this way Wadokai is the organization that has a close
co-operation with JKF and WKF (World Karate Federation).
1994 Wado World Cup in Budokan, Tokyo
1999 Wado World Cup in Budokan, Tokyo
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